about this story

Snow blanketed the town. Cars were stuck and the streets were impassable.

Poor Jake had been shovelling all morning. True, he didn't have to go to school, but it was small comfort to his poor, blistered fingers. While other kids were out enjoying the powder, Jake was forced to shovel his neighbours driveways. He needed the cash - or more specifially - he owed people money. Bad people. And he had to pay them off soon. Still, he was feeling sorry for himself. "I have an Ow-ie," he whined to his next door neighbour. "Do you have a band-aid?"

Meanwhile, in a galaxy far, far away, the council met to decide the fate of a boy they had met, on a planet a thousand light-years away.

"Look at how these people treat their planet," Kravin said, showing the slide photo. "They clearly don't care what happens to it."

"Yes," Shorp nodded, "But the boy cannot be allowed to stay." Shorp looked at each council member in turn. So one planet might be saved. The key to the plan was surprise. The Earthlings must never know about us until it's time. Surely concil would see that they needed to bring him home.

"But, look at this," Kravin said, clicking to another slide in his presentation. "Whoops," he muttered, looking at what should have been a picture of an oil spill about ten earth-years ago. Darn technology. It never works when you want it to.

"Well anyhow, it's yet another example of pollution, and neglect." Kravin was quite flustered, but tried to hide it. "This boy, um, Jake, as he is known," he stared at his notes, looking for the words even though he already knew what he was going to say. "This boy could save the Earth. We need the Earth. We can't afford to let it be ruined. Where will we go?"